Dianella caerulea plant named ‘DCMP01’

ABSTRACT

‘DCMP01’ is a distinctive variety of  Dianella caerulea  which is characterized by the combination of its dense growth, slightly spreading and compact growth habit, purple-blue flower color, and short canes with very short internodes, which is unusual for a  Dianella caerulea,  particularly when compared to the ‘Sydney Ecotype’. In addition, ‘DCMP01’ is less prone to falling over than the parent type.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel varietydisclosed herein is Dianella caerulea.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Dianella caeruleadisclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination ‘DCMP01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial Blue FlaxLilly variety of Dianella caerulea, which has been given the varietaldenomination of ‘DCMP01’. Its market class is that of an ornamentalgrass-like plant. ‘DCMP01’ is intended for use in landscaping and as adecorative grass-like plant.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘DCMP01’ has beenfiled with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was firstgazetted in the Plant Varieties Journal in October 2003 underApplication No. 2003/292.

Parentage. The Dianella caerulea variety ‘DCMP01’ was first discoveredin October 1996 in an Australian nursery in Clarendon, New South Wales,after an extensive breeding program. The ‘DCMP01’ parent, ‘SydneyEcotype’ (unpatented), is characterized by a tall plant height, mediumplant density, medium length aerial stems and yellow-green leaf colour.

In 1995, Dianella species were grown together in an open bed coveringapproximately 250 square meters of area. They were grown in groups ofspecies and ecotypes including Dianella caerulea collected from theSydney area, and other regions. The other Dianella species present werelongifolia, revoluta and tasmanica. The plants were open pollinated withpossible assisted pollination from general shaking of flower stems ontoeach other.

Seeds were collected and sown from the ‘Sydney Ecotype’ plants inDecember 1995. Approximately 30,000 plants were grown. In October 1996,using the selection criteria of compact growth habit and very shortaerial stems (canes) with very short internodes, a single plant wasidentified as having these characteristics. This plant was selected,potted into a 140 mm pot for further evaluation and named ‘DCMP01’.

Asexual reproduction. ‘DCMP01’ was first asexually propagated bydivision in April 1997, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Itwas asexually reproduced again during November 1997 and April 1998 andconfirmed to be stable in character. The distinctive characteristics ofthe inventive variety, ‘DCMP01’, have remained stable and true to typefrom generation to generation through successive cycles of asexualreproduction including vegetative division and micropropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘DCMP01’ is a distinctive variety of Dianella caerulea which ischaracterized by the combination of its dense growth, slightly spreadingand compact growth habit, purple-blue flower colour, and short caneswith very short internodes, which is unusual for a Dianella caerulea,particularly when compared to the ‘Sydney Ecotype’. In addition,‘DCMP01’ is less prone to falling over than the parent type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The photographs in the drawings were made using conventional techniquesand show the colours as true as reasonably possible by conventionalphotography. Colours in the photographs may differ slightly from thecolour values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colours of the new Dianella caerulea.

FIG. 1 shows a ‘DCMP01’ plant and illustrates the unusually shortinternodes located on short canes and a medium height flower spike thatis characteristic of the variety.

FIG. 2 shows the variation in leaf width and glaucosity among the fiveDianella caerulea varieties included in the comparison study.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Dianella caerulea ornamental grass-like plant known as‘DCMP01’. The descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observationsof the plant grown in 140 mm nursery pots and field plots in New SouthWales, Australia. The plants were approximately 12-months-old at thetime of observation. All colors cited herein refer to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society,London, 2001 edition).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘DCMP01’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like.

‘DCMP01’ is a perennial Dianella caerulea plant, which was producedthrough an innovative breeding program. After its selection, ‘DCMP01’was asexually propagated by division and micropropagation. ‘DCMP01’ hasdense growth, slightly spreading and compact growth habit, short rhizomeform, purple-blue flower colour, unusually short internodes located onshort canes, and a reduced tendency to fall over at maturity. Abotanical description of ‘DCMP01’ and a comparison with other varietiesof Dianella caerulea are provided below. A representative Dianellacaerulea ‘DCMP01’ plant is shown in FIG. 1.

Technical Description of the Variety

-   Growth habit: ‘DCMP01’ is a short, rhizomatous plant forming a    semi-compact tussock. Its growth habit is erect, the height is short    (mean 24.6 cm), and the density of shoots is strong.-   Stem: Length of internodes is short (less than 10 mm). The Sydney    ecotype has internode length which is long (greater than 20 mmm)    creating long aerial stem length (also known as canes).-   Foliage: Leaf attitude erect, width medium (mean 12.2 mm), upper    side colour with waxiness removed yellow-green (RHS 147A), lower    side colour with waxiness removed yellow-green (RHS 147B), upper    side glaucosity weak, shape ligulate, apex acute, cross section    concave, cross-sectional shape with midrib keeled, spines on margin    absent, spines on lower side midrib absent.-   Basal sheath: Anthocyanin colour red-brown (RHS 178A-B fading to    182B), intensity of anthocyanin colour weak.-   Inflorescence: The inflorescence (flower spike) is purple-blue    (approximately RHS 83C) with a longer than average length (range    50-60 cm) when compared to Dianella caerulea ‘DCNCO’ (U.S. Plant    patent application Ser. No. 11/239,579 filed Sep. 29, 2005;    Australian Plant Breeders Rights Certificate No. 2908, granted Oct.    18, 2005). The inflorescence is positioned above the level of the    foliage. The flower spike is soft to the touch. Peduncle color is    yellow green (approximately RHS 146B-C). Flowering season late    spring-summer.-   Flowers: The flower buds are 8-10 mm long and 3-4 mm wide. Bud color    changes from yellow green (RHS 147B) to violet blue (approximately    RHS 90A) prior to opening. Mature flowers have 6 petals with ovate    shape. Petal color is violet-blue (approximately RHS 92A-B). Anther    filament color is yellow (approximately RHS 11A). Flower diameter    range is 9-13 mm. Petal attitude is reflexed.-   Fruit: A succulent berry, shape is globose, color of unripe berry is    yellow green (RHS 146A) and color of ripe berry is approximately    violet blue (RHS 89A), surface texture is smooth and glossy. Seed    color is black (RHS 202A).-   Environmental tolerances: ‘DCMP01’ has shown potential for shade    tolerance. The winter hardiness of ‘DCMP01’ is at least to −10    degrees Celsius. ‘DCMP01’ has been observed to hold color to −6    degrees Celsius.

‘DCMP01’ has excellent drought tolerance compared with other Dianellacaerulea varieties, most likely due to its tighter foliage. After severewilting, ‘DCMP01’ has been noted to recover with watering.

-   Disease resistance and susceptibility: ‘DCMP01’ has excellent    tolerance to pests and diseases and good resistance to root rot,    which is a common problem in Dianella caerulea. Root rot is caused    by the disease causing organism Phytophthora. Tolerance to pests can    refer to no damage from snails, slugs, mites, aphids, whitefly,    beetles, caterpillars and moths.

These features and other characteristics of the plant are apparent fromthe figures.

‘DCMP01’ Compared to Other Varieties of Dianella caerulea

Grouping characteristics used to identify the most similar varieties ofcommon knowledge to ‘DCMP01’, were short height and dense growth habit.Based on this, ‘DBB03’ (U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/614,654, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Australian Plant Breeders RightsApplication No. 2003/291, received Oct. 8, 2003) was selected as themost similar suitable comparator for ‘DCMP01’. The parent (‘SydneyEcotype’) and another form from the Blue Mountains region of New SouthWales were also included in the trial. The comparative trial alsoincluded ‘DCNCO’, which has a much taller plant height than ‘DCMP01’.

The comparative trial of Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’ with other D.caerulea including ‘DBB03’, ‘DCNCO’, ‘Sydney Ecotype’, and ‘BlueMountains Ecotype’ (unpatented) was carried out in Summer 2002 throughAutumn 2003 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. The trial wasconducted in open beds. The plants for this trial were propagated fromdivisions and planted into 130 mm pots filled with soilless potting mix.Nutrition was maintained with slow release fertilizers and pest anddisease treatments were applied as required. The plants did not flowerduring the trial. Trial design included fifteen pots of each varietyarranged in a completely randomized design. Measurements were taken fromten plants at random with one sample taken per plant.

In comparing ‘DCMP01’ with the other Dianella caerulea varieties,‘DCMP01’ has a more compact habit than ‘Sydney Ecotype’, ‘Blue MountainsEcotype’, ‘DBB03’ and ‘DCNC0’. ‘DCMP01’ generally has short internodeslocated on short canes, whereas canes are generally absent on ‘DBB03’and ‘DCNC0’, and the ‘Sydney Ecotype’ has canes of typical length abovethe ground. ‘DCMP01’ has a taller flower spike height compared to‘DCNC0’, but a shorter flower spike height compared to ‘DBB03’. The‘Sydney Ecotype’ has a variable flower spike height. ‘DCNC0’ has a paleblue colour flower colour, whereas ‘DCMP01’ has a deeper blue almostpurplish flower colour, and the ‘Sydney Ecotype’ has a variable flowercolour. In addition, ‘DCMP01’ is easier and more productive to propagatefrom division than other known Dianella caerulea. Further comparisonsare presented in Table I.

TABLE I Comparison of Dianella caerulea varieties. Blue Sydney Mountains‘DBB03’ ‘DCMP01’ ‘DCNCO’ ecotype ecotype PLANT: GROWTH HABIT erect erecterect erect to semi-erect semi- to erect erect PLANT HEIGHT (cm) LSD (P≦ 0.01) = 6.03 mean 23.4^(c) 24.6^(c) 65.6^(a) 63.0^(a) 49.4^(a) stddeviation  2.2  2.6  5.0  5.5  8.5 PLANT: DENSITY OF SHOOTS strongstrong medium- medium weak strong STEM: INTERNODE LENGTH short shortshort long very long LEAF: WIDTH (mm) LSD (P ≦ 0.01) = 1.97 mean14.9^(c) 12.2^(d) 13.6^(cd) 17.1^(b) 22.2^(a) std deviation  2.1  0.6 0.8  0.9  2.9 LEAF: FOLIAGE COLOUR - overall appearance of leafblue-green yellow-green yellow- yellow- yellow- green green green LEAF:COLOUR - waxiness removed upper side 147A 147A 147B 146B ca 147A lowerside 147A 147B 147B 146B 147B LEAF: GLAUCOSITY strong weak weak weakweak LEAF: CROSS SECTION concave concave slight slight concave concaveconcave LEAF: PRESENCE OF SPINES ON MARGIN absent absent present presentpresent LEAF: PROMINENCE OF SPINES ON MARGIN n/a n/a medium medium veryweak LEAF: PRESENCE OF SPINES ON LOWER SIDE MIDRIB absent absent presentpresent present LEAF: PROMINENCE OF SPINES ON LOWER SIDE MIDRIB n/a n/amedium medium medium BASAL SHEATH: COLOUR blue- red- red- brown red togreen brown brown to red- red-brown brown BASAL SHEATH: INTENSITY OFANTHOCYANIN COLOUR absent weak medium medium strong Mean values followedby the same letter are not significantly different at P ≦ 0.01 accordingto an S-N-K test.

1. A new and distinct variety of Dianella caerulea plant named ‘DCMP01’,substantially as described and illustrated herein.